Toothbrush with paste tube holder



MHop/rins INVENTOR ATTORNEYS N. HOPKINS TOOTHBRUSj-I WITH PASTE TUBE HOLDER Filed Nov.. 5. 1957 March 31, 1959 United States Patent 2,879,531 TOOTHBRUSH WITH PASTE TUBE HOLDER Isaac Newton Hopkins, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application November 5, 1957, Serial No. 694,652 2 Claims. ((21. 15-105) This invention relates to toothbrush construction, and more particularly to the construction of the toothbrush handle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush holder having a pair of spaced ribs formed longitudinally of said handle throughout the major portion of the length thereof, and between which the closed end of a tooth paste tube is wedged, normally holding the tooth paste tube attached to the toothbrush for ready use.

Another object of the invention is to provide inwardly extended flanges arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other on said ribs, under which the closed end of a toothbrush tube is positioned and gripped by said flanges, holding the tooth paste tube against accidental displacement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for securing a toothpaste tube to the handle of a toothbrush in such a way that the tube may be wound around the handle as the tooth paste is removed therefrom in such a way that the tooth paste tube may be slid outwardly from between the ribs and readily replaced after a quantity of tooth paste has been removed for cleaning the teeth.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush handle having a groove within which one end of a tooth paste tube is positioned and a drain opening adjacent to one end of the groove to permit moisture to drain from the groove and brush.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the back of a tooth brush handle supplied with a groove in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the toothbrush handle.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the manner of winding the closed end of a toothbrush tube around the handle as tooth paste is removed therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a toothbrush handle constructed in accordance with the invention is indicated generally by the reference character 5, the handle being formed with a brush head 6 at one end thereof.

As better shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, the handle is provided with a pair of spaced ribs 7 arranged along what is commonly known as the back of the handle, the ribs diverging towards the outer end of the handle, as better shown by Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Parallel flanges 8 extend inwardly from the outer edges of the ribs 7 and are disposed adjacent to the brush head 6, the flanges being spaced apart so that the closed end of a tooth paste tube indicated by the reference character A and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, may be slid thereunder, the flanges contacting the closed end of the tooth paste tube, to prevent accidental displacement of the tube. Since the ribs 7 diverge towards the outer end of the handle, the folded end of the toothpaste tube supported by the handle may be easily guided to a position between the contracted end of the space formed by such ribs.

Further, because the ribs 7 which provide the groove are formed in one side of the toothbrush handle, the tooth paste tube may be wrapped around the handle as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawing, to compensate for any flattened portion of the tooth paste tube at the discharge end of the tooth paste tube, caused by pressure being exerted adjacent to the discharge end of the tube forcing tooth paste therefrom. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction the tube may be readily removed in order to provide tooth paste to the bristles of the toothbrush and after the toothbrush has been used in cleaning the teeth, the tooth paste tube may be readily returned to the position as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, where it will be held against displacement for further use when desired.

The handle 5 is provided with an opening 9 that communicates with the space between the ribs 7 and provides a drain opening to allow water which may collect between the ribs 7 as the toothbrush is held under a spigot or water supplied to drain therefrom.

With a toothbrush and tooth paste tube holder forming the subject matter of the present invention, it will be obvious that the tooth paste tube is always handy and ready for use, the flanges 8 being so constructed that they will prevent displacement of the toothpaste tube held therebetween.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a toothbrush having a handle portion and a brush portion, a pair of longitudinally extending transversely spaced ribson said handle portion, said ribs having flanges generally along the tops thereof and together defining a groove therebetween, said groove consisting of a wider portion at the bottom and a narrower portion at the top of said groove between said flanges, said groove being open at at least one end thereof to slidably receive the closed end of a toothpaste tube and prevent ready separation thereof through the top of said groove, said handle portion in the vicinity of said groove having a contour in section which is rounded at least in part, whereby a toothpaste tube inserted in said groove is engaged by said ribs, may be wound around said toothbrush and may be readily removed by relative movement in an endwise direction.

2. As an article of manufacture, a toothbrush having a handle portion and a brush portion, a pair of longitudinally extending transversely spaced ribs on the back of said handle portion, said ribs having flanges generally along the tops thereof and together defining a groove therebetween, said groove consisting of a wider portion at the bottom and a narrower portion at the top of said groove between said flanges, said groove being open at at least one end thereof remote from said brush portion and closed at the other end to slidably receive the closed end of a toothpaste tube, said flanges being closer together at said other end to wedge said tube therebetween when inserted in said groove, said handle portion having an opening extending between the bottom of said groove and the front of said handle portion, said handle portion in the vicinity of said groove being generally cylindrical, whereby a toothpaste tube inserted in said groove is engaged by said ribs, may be wound around said toothbrush and may be readily removed by relative movement in an endwise direction away from said brush portion.

Case Nov. 24, 1931 Neimy Oct. 15, 1957 

